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Bills from the 2009–10 session

Assembly Bill 429

Driving a motor vehicle while using a wireless telecommunications device and providing a penalty

Topics: Motor vehicle: Driver's license, Motor vehicle: Regulation, Telecommunications, Telephone, Youth

Stopped in committee

It had a but no committee vote, so it never came up for a vote. To try again, a lawmaker would have to start a new bill.

  1. Introduced, passed

    Sep 22, 2009

  2. Committee, stopped here

    Stopped here. It had a hearing but no committee vote.

  3. Assembly vote, not reached

  4. Senate vote, not reached

  5. Governor, not reached

  6. Law, not reached

Latest entry in the official record, Apr 28, 2010: “Failed to pass pursuant to ⁠”

It sat with the Assembly Committee on Transportation.

Read the bill

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What it would have done

Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

Current law prohibits inattentive driving, which means that a driver of a motor vehicle may not be so engaged or occupied as to interfere with the safe driving of the vehicle. Any person convicted of inattentive driving may be required to forfeit not less than $20 nor more than $400.

This bill prohibits a person from using a wireless telecommunications device while driving. A "wireless telecommunications device" is defined as any cellular telephone two-way radio or citizens band radio, personal digital assistant, or other device while being used by the device's operator to transmit verbal communications, electronic mail, text messages, or any other electronic communication to one or more persons not physically present with the device's operator, but does not include any global positioning system device installed in or on a vehicle.

Read the full summary

An exception is provided for a person who uses a wireless telecommunications device that allows the person to talk and listen without holding the device or any handset or receiver and the person does not hold or touch the device or any handset or receiver while driving the motor vehicle. This exception does not apply to a person who holds a probationary license or an instruction permit and who is under 18 years of age. Exceptions to the prohibition are also provided for use of a wireless telecommunications device in response to an emergency or by an operator of an authorized emergency vehicle. A person found guilty of violating this provision may be required to forfeit not less than $20 nor more than $400.

Who's behind it

4 lawmakers are its ⁠. 3 are Democrats and 1 is a Republican.

2 more lawmakers ⁠.

See all 6 names

Authors (4)

Signed on in support (2)

Versions and amendments

Every text the Legislature printed for this bill, including proposed changes. Each opens on the Legislature's site.

What happened

  1. Apr 28, 2010

    The session ended, and the bill died with it.

  2. Jan 21, 2010

    The committee held a public hearing.

  3. Sep 22, 2009

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Transportation.

  4. Sep 22, 2009

    Introduced in the Assembly.

See the official record, word for word
  1. Sep 22, 2009 · Assembly

    Introduced by Representatives Smith, Black, Hubler and Van Roy;Cosponsored by Senators Taylor and Risser

  2. Sep 22, 2009 · Assembly

    Read first time and referred to committee on Transportation

  3. Nov 2, 2009 · Assembly

    Assembly amendment 1 offered by Representative Smith

  4. Dec 11, 2009 · Assembly

    Assembly amendment 2 offered by Representative Smith

  5. Jan 14, 2010 · Assembly

    Assembly amendment 3 offered by Representative Smith

  6. Jan 21, 2010 · Assembly

    Public hearing held

  7. Apr 28, 2010 · Assembly

    Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1

Terms on this page

Committee

A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.

More in the glossary

Public hearing

A meeting where anyone can speak to a committee about a bill, or send written comments.

More in the glossary

Senate Joint Resolution 1

The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.

Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1. More in the glossary

Legislative Reference Bureau

The Legislature's nonpartisan office that drafts bills and writes the summary at the top of each one.

Official term: LRB analysis. More in the glossary

Author

A lawmaker who formally puts a bill forward. The text itself is drafted by the Legislative Reference Bureau.

Official term: Author, coauthor. More in the glossary

Signed on in support

Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.

Official term: Cosponsor. More in the glossary

From the Wisconsin Legislature's official record, checked Sep 15, 2026. See the source

Committee

A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.

More in the glossary

Public hearing

A meeting where anyone can speak to a committee about a bill, or send written comments.

More in the glossary

Senate Joint Resolution 1

The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.

Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1

More in the glossary

Legislative Reference Bureau

The Legislature's nonpartisan office that drafts bills and writes the summary at the top of each one.

Official term: LRB analysis

More in the glossary

Author

A lawmaker who formally puts a bill forward. The text itself is drafted by the Legislative Reference Bureau.

Official term: Author, coauthor

More in the glossary

Signed on in support

Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.

Official term: Cosponsor

More in the glossary